Japan is currently experiencing an unprecedented “Oshi-katsu” boom! The number of people supporting anime characters and idols continues to grow, and there’s no sign of this momentum slowing down anytime soon.
Among these trends, “Oshi-katsu café hopping”—taking photos with acrylic stands (commonly called “Akusta”) or plushies—has become especially popular among young women. The key is to capture your favorite character in the shot, sometimes subtly, sometimes boldly, while enjoying drinks in your oshi’s color and the cute, themed interiors of these cafés.
In this article, we’ll introduce a carefully selected selection of stylish cafés in Ikebukuro, Tokyo—a district known for its deep-rooted otaku culture—where you can fully enjoy your Oshi-katsu experience.
Ikebukuro: The Holy Land of Oshi-katsu! What is Oshi-katsu at a Café?
Ikebukuro is home to many stylish cafés perfect for Oshi-katsu. In addition, there are numerous anime shops and specialty stores dedicated to Oshi-katsu, making it an essential area for fans looking to enjoy their passion.
What is Oshi-katsu? The Culture of Supporting Anime, Idols, and More
Oshi-katsu refers to activities where you support and enjoy your favorite idols, characters, actors, and more in your daily life. It’s not just about collecting merchandise or attending events—there are many ways to enjoy Oshi-katsu, such as taking photos at cafés or gathering items in your oshi’s color.
This culture is also closely tied to sharing on social media, making it a uniquely Japanese phenomenon that’s now attracting a lot of attention.
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Why is Ikebukuro in Tokyo So Popular as an Oshi-katsu Spot?
As mentioned above, Ikebukuro is the perfect place for Oshi-katsu enthusiasts. The area around Animate Ikebukuro Main Store, a large specialty shop for manga and anime goods, and Otome Road is especially lively, with many anime shops and specialty stores clustered together! There are also many limited-time event cafés and collaboration cafés, making Ikebukuro a popular “holy land” for Oshi-katsu.
The Classic Style of Enjoying Oshi-katsu at a Café
Oshi-katsu at cafés is one of the most accessible and classic ways to enjoy this culture. Ordering drinks or sweets in your oshi’s color and taking photos with acrylic stands or plushies is especially popular.
The key is to make use of the café’s atmosphere and interior for your photos. Whether you’re chatting with friends or posting on social media, there are countless ways to enjoy yourself.
Many cafés also offer plates decorated with character faces or birthday and commemorative messages, so more and more people are celebrating their oshi’s birthdays at these spots.
6 Stylish Cafés in Ikebukuro: Perfect for Photos and Oshi-katsu
From here, we’ll introduce stylish cafés in Ikebukuro where you can enjoy Oshi-katsu.
fanfancy+with GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3: A Popular Café for Oshi-Katsu Activities
Photo courtesy of fanfancy+with GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3
"fanfancy+with GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3" is a hot spot known as a café specializing in oshi-katsu (supporting your favorite characters or idols). The interior is unified in pink, with areas for merchandise sales and photo spots—truly a space dedicated to oshi-katsu!
Photo courtesy of fanfancy+with GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3
You can fully enjoy your oshi-katsu with seasonal bottled drinks and flower stand plans to celebrate your oshi's birthday.
Recommended Menu at "fanfancy+with GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3"
Original Bottled Drinks
Drinks served in original bottles. Each comes with card sleeve an acrylic charm as a novelty, so you can enjoy café time together with your oshi.
Shop Information
- Address: 7F, GiGO Ikebukuro Building No.3, 1-1-4 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 1 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station East Exit
- Business Hours: 10:00–22:00
- Closed: None
- Official Website: https://fanfancy.com/brand/top.aspx
Le Café BENOIT NIHANT: Perfect for Grown-up Oshi-Katsu in a Calm Atmosphere
At "Le Café BENOIT NIHANT," you can enjoy signature items like BENOIT NIHANT's "Bonbon Chocolat," the store-exclusive "Éclair Salé," and light meals such as salads served with homemade scones.
The simple and sophisticated interior is recommended for those who want to discreetly take photos of their oshi goods. The atmosphere makes it easy to take photos matching your oshi's color, making it the perfect spot for adult oshi-katsu.
Recommended Menu at "Le Café BENOIT NIHANT"
Photo courtesy of Le Café BENOIT NIHANT
"Éclair Salé" Set – Exclusive to Seibu Ikebukuro (2,750 yen including tax) / Single item (1,760 yen including tax)
A luxurious light meal with colorful ingredients sandwiched in choux pastry. Its gorgeous appearance is perfect for photos with acrylic stands or plushies.
Shop Information
- Address: 4F, Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store, 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 3 minutes walk from Ikebukuro Station
- Business Hours: 10:00–20:00 (Last order 19:00) *Follows Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store hours
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Official Website: https://benoitnihant.jp/
Alice in the Old Castle: "Alice in Wonderland" Themed Restaurant
"Alice in the Old Castle" is a themed restaurant that recreates the world of Alice in Wonderland. The interior is so cute it feels like you've stepped into the story itself, and you can enjoy whimsical photo sessions with acrylic stands or plushies.
There is also a wide variety of menus perfect for "oshi-katsu" (supporting your favorite character or idol), such as an afternoon tea set and non-alcoholic cocktails in birthstone colors that you can choose from. For birthdays or anniversaries, you can even surprise someone with a message plate.
Recommended Menu at "Alice in the Old Castle"
Alice's Golden Afternoon Tea Party Set (1,750 yen including tax)
An afternoon tea set where you can enjoy several types of sweets all at once. The cute appearance makes it perfect for taking photos with acrylic stands or plushies.
Original Cocktails (from 870 yen including tax)
The drink menu is also extensive, featuring cocktails inspired by the story and non-alcoholic cocktails in 12 different birthstone colors. Choose your favorite color and try taking some photos.
Store Information
- Address: B1, Suzuwa Building, 2-16-8 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 3 minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station, Seibu Exit
- Business Hours: Mon–Fri Lunch 12:00–14:30 (L.O. 14:00) / Dinner 17:00–22:00 (L.O. 21:00); Sat, Sun & Holidays 12:00–22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
- Closed: None
- Official Website: http://www.alice-restaurant.com/kojo/
Hoshizora Sunshine TOKYO Ikebukuro: A Planetarium-like Café Atmosphere
Photo courtesy of Hoshizora Sunshine TOKYO Ikebukuro
At "Hoshizora Sunshine TOKYO Ikebukuro," you can enjoy a fantastical, planetarium-like space inspired by a sky full of stars. The ceiling is covered with a realistic starry sky, and there are also private rooms with panoramic night views. It’s a great spot for those who want to take romantic photos of their favorite goods.
Photo courtesy of Hoshizora Sunshine TOKYO Ikebukuro
The café also offers drinks perfect for “oshi-katsu” such as cream sodas and colorful non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as afternoon tea and surprise message boxes, this is also a great spot for celebrating your favorite's birthday.
Recommended Menu at "Hoshizora Sunshine TOKYO Ikebukuro"
Cream Soda
The cream soda, available in strawberry, melon, ramune, and pineapple flavors, is perfect for taking photos with acrylic stands or plushies. Choose your favorite color and be sure to take some pictures!
Store Information
- Address: 10th Floor, aune Ikebukuro, 1-21-13 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 4 minutes on foot from JR Ikebukuro Station
- Business Hours: Mon–Fri & Day Before Holidays 12:00–23:00 (L.O. 23:00, Drinks L.O. 23:30); Sat, Sun & Holidays 12:00–23:30 (L.O. 22:30, Drinks L.O. 23:00)
- Closed: January 1st–3rd
- Official Website: https://gj6b800.gorp.jp/
HANABAR: A Magical Café Surrounded by Dried Flowers
Photo credit: HANABAR
HANABAR is a café bar with a magical atmosphere surrounded by dried flowers. You can enjoy a variety of colorful muffins, cocktails, and cream sodas made with flowers, and choose your favorite color to support your favorite character or idol.
Every corner of the interior is picture-perfect, making it a great spot for taking photos with acrylic stands or plushies. Enjoy a sophisticated and cute “oshi-katsu” (support activities for your favorite character or idol) experience here.
Recommended Menu at HANABAR
Custom Cream Soda (from 1,600 yen)
You can order a cream soda in your favorite color and flavor. It’s also a plus that you can choose between alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.
Flower Cocktail (from 930 yen)
A sophisticated cocktail with floating flowers. You can also order it non-alcoholic, and custom variations are available! There are also limited-time menu items available.
Shop Information
- Address: 1F, Isono Building, 3-30-6 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 2 minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station
- Opening hours: 11:30–23:00 (Last order 22:00)
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hanabar.ikebukuro/
Sunny Days Pudding Café: A Popular Café Famous for Firm Pudding
Photo credit: Sunny Days Pudding Café
Sunny Days Pudding Café is a specialty shop for pudding made with carefully selected ingredients. Their handmade puddings use premium milk and eggs, and the menu also features cream sodas in seven different colors—both charming and delicious.
The interior features a bright, natural atmosphere with white accents, making it easy for your oshi-katsu goods to fit naturally. This is the perfect place for those who want to enjoy their oshi-katsu in a relaxed setting with delicious sweets.
Recommended Menu at Sunny Days Pudding Café
Retro Pudding (650 yen, tax included)
A rich, firm pudding topped with fresh cream and caramel. Its retro appearance makes it perfect for photos.
Cream Soda (7 varieties, 800 yen, tax included)
Choose from seven types of cream soda—perfect for oshi-katsu. Takeout is also available, making it great for enjoying your oshi-katsu outdoors as well.
Shop Information
- Address: 2-24-27 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- Access: About 8 minutes on foot from JR Ikebukuro Station, about 5 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line Kanamecho Station
- Opening hours: Eat-in 11:00–20:00 (Last order 20:30) / Takeout 11:00–21:30
- Closed: Mondays
- Official website: https://sunnydays-cafe.jp/ec/
Enjoy an Oshi-Katsu Café Tour in Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is full of cafés where you can enjoy drinks in your oshi’s color and adorable spaces perfect for taking photos. Taking pictures with acrylic stands or plushies will make your time with your oshi even more special.
Be sure to find your favorite café and enjoy your very own “oshi-katsu café hopping” experience!
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